A patient admitted with diagnosis of pericarditis develops hypotension, shortness of breath, tachycardia, distended neck veins. Which of the following procedures with the nurse anticipate assisting for this emergent situation?

A. Hypertrophy of the right ventricle refers to the thickening of the walls of the right ventricle of the heart. Hypertrophy of the right ventricle is not a typical consequence of rheumatic fever. Instead, rheumatic fever more commonly affects the heart valves.
B. Superior vena cava syndrome occurs when there is obstruction of the superior vena cava, which is a major vein that carries blood from the head, neck, and upper body to the heart. It is not a direct consequence of rheumatic fever.
C. Valvular heart disease is a significant long-term consequence of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can cause inflammation of the heart valves, leading to damage that may result in stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage) of the valves. The mitral and aortic valves are most commonly affected. This damage can progress over time and lead to chronic heart problems, including valvular heart disease.
D. Pulmonary hypertension refers to high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. It can be caused by various conditions, including chronic lung diseases and left heart disease. While rheumatic fever primarily affects the heart valves and can potentially lead to heart failure, it is not a direct cause of pulmonary hypertension.

A. Digoxin is a medication used primarily to treat heart failure and certain types of arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation. It works by increasing the force of heart contractions and slowing the heart rate. However, digoxin is not typically used to treat bradycardia and may actually exacerbate the condition by further slowing the heart rate.
B. While monitoring is an essential part of patient care, it is not sufficient alone in this situation. The client’s heart rate is very low (45 beats per minute) and their blood pressure is low (82/60 mm Hg), which suggests they are symptomatic and potentially unstable.
C. Defibrillation is used to treat life-threatening arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. It is not used for sinus bradycardia, which is a slow heart rate rather than a rapid, disorganized rhythm requiring electrical shock.

D. Transcutaneous pacing involves applying external pacing pads to the skin to stimulate the heart and increase the heart rate. This is a suitable intervention for symptomatic bradycardia, especially when accompanied by low blood pressure and dizziness.